Improvement in dredge-boxes



E. MATH ER.

Dredge-Box. N.0.161,891. v Patented April13,1 875.

1N VENTOR W lTNESSES THE GRAPHIC C(LPHOTOPLITILQQ 8141 PARK PLAGE, ILY.

EMMETT MATHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK STURGES 8t (30.,OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN DREDGE-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 161,891, dated April13, 1875; application filed December 4, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EMMETT MATHER, ofChicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Dredge-Boxes, of whichimprovements the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription whichwill enable others skilled in the art to which my invention ap pertainsto make and use the said improvement, reference being had to theaccompanyin g drawing forming a part hereof, and in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of a dredgebox provided with my improvement, a part ofthe body of the box being broken away, and Fig. 2 a top view of thesame.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

Heretofore dredge-boxes have been made with perforated tops, which havebeen sealed and closed in various ways for transportation, and variousmeans have been employed to render the boxes capable of beingconveniently opened and closed by the user. But an objectionable featurein all of these devices, so far as I am aware, is, that it is notreadily distinguishable whether the boxes are open or shut, hence theyare not only liable to be carelessly left open, thus suffering theircontents to lose their strength, but the contents are liable to bewasted; also, in boxes having a detachable cover for a seal, the coveris liable to become loose in transportation, and thereby causing a lossor waste of the contents of the box, and when in use the cover is oftenmislaid or lost, resulting in loss of strength to the spice contained inthe box.

The object of my invention is to make a seal which will not onlyeffectually seal the perforations during transportation, and which maybe readily opened and closed by theuser, but which cannot be left openwithout attracting attention. To this end my invention relates to thatclass of dredge-boxes provided with a perforated cap or cover; andconsists in providing the cap or cover with a tight vertical1y-vibratinglid hinged thereto, and made to clasp the said cap, substantially ashereinafter specified.

In the drawing, A represents the body of the box. B is aperforated capor cover fitted on the part A. U is a vertically-vibrating lid hinged tothe cap B, and having its edge turned over to engage with a rib orcatch, a, projecting laterally from the upper edge of the cap B, asshown. There is su'fficient spring in the metal to admit of the lid 0being easily pushed down until it is firmly held by its engagement withpart a. The lid 0 may also be easily raised, and, when raised, willattract attention and thus indicate that the perforations are uncovered.A slight tap on the lid will seal the box.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

A dredge-box provided with a perforated cap, having hinged thereto thevertically-vibrating lid 0, the said cap and lid being constructed forengagement with each other, substantially as specified.

EMMETT MATHER.

Witnesses:

F. F. WARNER, N. G. GRIDLEY.

